Ink application device for tattooing or for making permanent make-up

ABSTRACT

An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanent make-up includes a handle, a needle drive, a needle, a needle nozzle and a protective cap. The device further includes at least two modules releasably connected to one another. One of the modules is formed as a reusable base module with an integrated needle drive, and the other module is a sterilized disposable module in which all components of the manual device capable of being infected by bodily fluids of a customer are integrated. The device can be constructively divided into two or three separate modules: a basic module, a disposable or hygienic module and an optional ink module. The basic module corresponds to the handle that includes the needle drive and is designed such that the hygienic module can be safely attached and connected to the integrated needle drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No.09/671,650 filed on Sep. 28, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,553.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ink application device for tattooingor for making permanent make-up that can apply tattoos or otherpermanent make-up. In particular, this invention relates to a permanentmake-up ink application device for ensuring sterility when treatingcustomers.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

The spreading of highly infectious bacterial or viral infectiousdiseases such as AIDS and hepatitis, which are transmitted by bodilyfluids, places substantial pressure on cosmeticians with respect to thehygienic handling of the tools and ink containers when applyingpermanent make-up (PMU) and tattoos. In everyday practice, theseconcerns are not easy to address.

It is particularly problematic in the practice of applying permanentmake-up and tattoos because these measures are so invasive. Inparticular, the customer's skin is pierced by the method, and blood orblood serum may issue from the treated portion of the skin. Moreover,the parts of the device that come into direct contact with the customer,in particular, the needles and needle nozzles, are contaminated by thecustomer's bodily fluids. In order to avoid known diseases transmittedby bodily fluids, such as AIDS and hepatitis, these parts of the devicemust be sterile before treatment and are to be regarded as potentiallyinfectious after treatment. Therefore, they must be disposed ofaccordingly.

Thus, it is common practice that certain parts of the PMU or tattoodevice, such as needles, are disposable articles. Other parts can beused several times and thus must be carefully cleaned and sterilizedafter use. Before use, these parts must be taken out of the sterilepackaging in which they are stored and then they are mounted in or atthe PMU or manual tattoo device. This requires a substantial amount oftime and money and further requires great care from the users to ensurethat all parts are sterile when the device is used on customers.

When applying tattoos or permanent make-up, ink to be introduced intothe skin is typically taken from large ink reservoir containers, usuallylarge ink bottles. Then the ink is either directly applied onto thecustomer's skin or it is injected by means of syringes, dropper pipettesor similar tools into a PMU or tattoo pen by means of which the tattoois applied. The amount of ink in the ink bottles is significantly largerthan the quantity required for one customer. One bottle is thereforeused for a multitude of tattoos and make-up applications or for multiplecustomers.

This practice poses health risks for customers because of the dangerthat bodily fluids, such as blood or serum issuing from the injured skinof a customer when piercing, “carving-in” or contacting the skin whileapplying the ink, contact the filling aids used for transferring the inkout of the reservoir ink bottles. As a result, the bodily fluids mayspread into the reservoir bottle thereby losing the sterility of thebottle. Under these circumstances, several customers can be contaminatedby infectious diseases if the same ink and the same filing aid are used.

The prolonged storage of the ink in the relatively large reservoircontainer and the permanent extraction of small amounts for treatingcustomers can, despite all precautionary measures, cause thecontamination of the ink with dust particles, germs and bacteria and maylead to an infection in the customer. The sterility of the ink cantherefore not always be reliably ensured despite careful hygienicmeasures. Moreover, an economic handling of the relatively expensive inkis not possible with this method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioneddisadvantages and to reliably ensure the sterility of a device and theink for each customer, each tattoo and each permanent make-up in asimple manner.

According to the invention, the object is solved by an ink applicationdevice for tattooing or for making permanent make-up, comprising ahandle, a needle drive, a needle, a needle nozzle and a protective cap,and at least two modules releasably connected to one another, whereinone of the modules is formed as a reusable base module with anintegrated needle drive, and the other module is a sterilized disposablemodule in which all components of the manual device capable of beinginfected by bodily fluids of a customer are integrated.

The ink application device is constructively divided into two or threeseparate modules: a basic module, a disposable or hygienic module and anoptional ink module, e.g. an ink cartridge, wherein the basic modulecorresponds to the handle which includes the drive and is designatedsuch that the hygienic module can be safely attached and connected tothe drive.

When using a disposable module which includes all parts that canpotentially be infected during treatment by the customer's bodilyfluids, the exchange of single parts of the manual device, such as theneedle or needle nozzles and the sterilization of the remaining partsthat may have contacted the bodily fluid, becomes superfluous before thenext use of the manual device on another customer. The disposable moduleis removed from the basic module after the treatment and is disposed ofin the usual manner. Then, it is necessary for the subsequent treatmentto plug a new disposable module onto the basic module to make the deviceready to operate for the next customer. Since the disposable module istaken from a sterile package directly before use, its sterility isensured without the need for special hygienic measures by the user orhygienic conditions in the treatment environment.

The connection between the basic module and the disposable module can beestablished and released in a simple manner so that the device can alsobe simply and safely used even by less experienced users.

Since the ink tank is filled before the sterilization process or afterremoval from the sterile packaging by means of a sterilized inkcartridge with an ink quantity sufficient for one treatment, thecontamination or infection of the ink is effectively prevented, and therequired sterility during treatment is ensured.

The ink quantity of approximately 0.5 to 2.0 ml provided according topreferred embodiments is usually sufficient for one tattoo or PMU. Iffurther ink is required for larger tattoo applications, the empty inkcartridge can easily be replaced by a new, sterile cartridge without therisk of contamination or infection.

An ink container can, for instance, be used as an ink cartridge asdisclosed in the German Utility Model No. 299 16 971, which isincorporated herein by reference.

A sealing diaphragm provided, according to the preferred embodiments,between the basic and disposable module ensures that no ink leaks fromthe ink tank of the disposable module and enters the basic module. Thisensures that the reusable basic module is not exposed to bodily fluidsand can be reused without having to be sterilized. In addition, thediaphragm also prevents the penetration of impurities, germs or bacteriawhich may adhere to the basic module, into the sterile disposablemodule.

The manual device according to the invention achieves the specialhygienic conditions necessary for applying tattoos or PMUs with simplehandling procedures to ensure sterility of the elements contacting thecustomer's skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbe clearly understood from the following description with respect to thepreferred embodiments thereof when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a disposable module according tothe invention which is already filled with ink and which is closed,storable and ready to operate;

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross sectional view of the disposable module ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of an emptydisposable module formed according to the invention with an attached inkcartridge;

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross sectional view of another embodiment of anempty disposable module formed according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross sectional view of yet another embodiment ofan empty disposable module formed according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross sectional view of a further embodiment ofan empty disposable module formed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a disposable or hygienic moduleformed according to the invention. A basic module 20 is formed as aconventional handle. The basic module 20 comprises a drive 21 for aneedle 3, which is adapted in accordance with the constructive design ofa needle shaft 13.

The disposable module is provided with a housing comprising a rearhousing part 1 and a front housing part 2, and a protective cap 9 whichtightly locks the element towards the front when it is not in use. Thedisposable module of the present example is comprised of parts made of amedically compatible plastic material. In an alternative embodiment, itcan also be formed as one piece. The manufacturer places the module in asterile package, and it is suitable for long-term storage.

A thermoplastic injection needle 3 is supported within the element by asealing and bearing element 4 and by a bearing sleeve 7. The bearingdimensions are proportioned so that simple and normal operation of theneedle 3 is ensured, and the needle movement through the bearing 4transports the ink. Moreover, the sleeve 7 ensures movement with littlefriction.

An ink tank 14 is closed by a collar 6 and is filled with ink. The sizeof the ink tank 14 preferably corresponds to an ink quantity ofapproximately 0.5 to 2.0 ml, since this ink quantity is usuallysufficient for one treatment. Different ink quantities are of coursealso possible.

The ink is preferably introduced before sterilization and packaging ofthe disposable module, and the element is closed by the collar 6. Inthis manner, the sterility of the element and of the ink is ensured. Theelement is packaged in a storable manner. After removal from the sterilepackaging, it is immediately ready to operate, and it only has to beconnected to the basic module formed as a handle with the needle drive.

The leaking of ink towards the back into the basic module, which is notshown, is prevented because the bearing 4 is dimensioned to have in atight fit, and the needle shaft 13 is closed by a diaphragm 5, that ismade of a resilient material. The diaphragm 5 has a substantiallycentrally arranged opening for the needle 3, and the opening is providedwith a sealing bead or lip 32. The sealing bead or lip 32 is disposedaround the needle shaft. The resiliency of the diaphragm 5 enablesmovement of the needle 3 within a required stroke interval. The slidableseat of the sealing bead or lip 32 of the diaphragm 5 on the needleshaft 13 allows relief of the diaphragm in the rest position. Thediaphragm 5 is preferably made of a medically compatible, rubber-likematerials, which are generally known in medical technology.

A magnet 10 attached at the distal end of the needle shaft 13 secures anon-positive connection of the needle 3 with the drive (not shown) inthe basic module when the disposable module is connected to the basicmodule. The drive is provided at the opposite end of the needle shaft 13with a corresponding magnetic counter piece 31 to realize the magneticcoupling. The magnetic material may be soft iron or reinforced ornon-reinforced sinter ceramics.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show further embodiments of the disposable or hygienicmodule according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the oneshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the ink filling of the element isperformed by plugging on a sterile ink cartridge 11. As shown in FIG. 4,a specially formed diaphragm 5 supports its resilient movement with theneedle 3.

Instead of the ink cartridge 11, a micro dosing pump (not shown) canalso supply the ink from a corresponding ink container into the ink tank14. The ink is preferably discharged automatically from the ink module11 or from the micro dosing pump into the ink tank 14. Preferably 5 to30 ml per needle stroke are dosed. Manual operation of the ink module 11is also possible. The ink is transported by the movement of the needle 3through a needle nozzle 8 during operation of the manual device.

In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the needle shaft 13 can beformed cylindrically at its distal end so that it engages a clampingdevice provided in the basic module, preferably with a collet chuck toestablish the drive connection for the needle 3.

As an alternative, the diaphragm can also be formed without an openingfor the needle 3 and fully close the disposable module in the directionof the basic module. In this case, an indirect connection between theelements of the magnetic coupling with an interposed diaphragm 5 isestablished.

In a further embodiment, the needle shaft 13 can be formed as a pressureabsorber at its distal end. The needle shaft 13 can be driven forwarddirectly through the opening of the diaphragm 5 or indirectly throughthe closed diaphragm 5 by a pressure tappet not connected to the needleshaft. It can then be moved back by a return spring 12.

Further examples of embodiments of the element are shown in FIGS. 5 and6. In both alternatives, the needles are moved by means of a returnspring 12 located in a rear portion of the device. In FIG. 5, a closedform diaphragm 5 is shown, with the needle shaft 13 being formed as apressure absorber abutting the inner side of the diaphragm that is theside facing the disposable module. On the opposite side of the diaphragm5 (i.e. the side facing the basic module), a tappet, which is not shown,holds the needle shaft end against the force of the return spring 12 todrive the needle 3. The return movement of the needle 3 is thenperformed by the force of the return spring 12.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the disposable module is sealed in thedirection of the basic module by a closed diaphragm 5. In the embodimentof FIG. 6, the diaphragm 5 is provided with an opening.

It is to be understood that although the present invention has beendescribed with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, various otherembodiments and variants may occur to those skilled in the art, whichare within the scope and spirit of the invention, and such otherembodiments and variants are intended to be covered by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ink application device for tattooing or formaking permanent make-up, comprising: a basic module having a handle andan integrated needle drive; and a disposable module including an outerhousing substantially surrounding a needle which is supported at one endof the disposable module by a needle nozzle and which is supported atanother end of the disposable module by a portion that can contact theintegrated needle drive, the needle being movable relative to the outerhousing, and an ink receiving portion disposed around the needle, andmeans for allowing simultaneous removal of the entire disposable modulefrom the basic module.
 2. An ink application device for tattooing or formaking permanent make-up as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inkreceiving portion has a volume sufficient for one application of ink. 3.An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanent make-upas claimed in claim 1, wherein the needle is disposed at least partiallyin said ink receiving portion so that during operation of the device,needle movement transports ink through the needle nozzle.
 4. An inkapplication device for tattooing or for making permanent make-up asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a separate ink module attachableto an opening in the disposable module for filling the ink receivingportion, the separate ink module having a quantity of sterile inksufficient for one application.
 5. An ink application device fortattooing or for making permanent make-up as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe separate ink module includes an outlet for discharging ink with eachneedle stroke.
 6. An ink application device for tattooing or for makingpermanent make-up as claimed in claim 4, wherein the separate ink moduleincludes an outlet for discharging ink into the ink receiving portion.7. An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanentmake-up as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion that can contact theintegrated needle drive is the needle shaft.
 8. An ink applicationdevice for tattooing or for making permanent make-up as claimed in claim7, wherein the needle shaft is cylindrical.
 9. An ink application devicefor tattooing or for making permanent make-up as claimed in claim 7,further comprising a diaphragm disposed between the ink receivingportion and the basic module.
 10. An ink application device fortattooing or for making permanent make-up, comprising: a basic modulehaving a handle and an integrated needle drive; and a disposable modulehaving a housing that includes a needle disposed therein, an inkreceiving portion around the needle disposed inside the housing, aneedle nozzle disposed on one end of the disposable module, another endof the disposable module having a portion that is connectable to theintegrated needle drive and a bearing element disposed inside thehousing and supporting the needle in the housing so that the needle, theink receiving portion, the bearing element and the housing form a unitthat is detachable from the basic module, and sealing means disposedbetween the ink receiving portion and the basic module for preventingliquids from reaching the basic module; whereby components of the devicethat could be infected by the bodily fluids of a user are integratedinto the disposable module.
 11. An ink application device for tattooingor for making permanent make-up as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inkreceiving portion has a volume sufficient for one application of ink.12. An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanentmake-up as claimed in claim 10, wherein the needle is disposed at leastpartially in said ink receiving portion so that during operation of thedevice, needle movement transports ink through the needle nozzle.
 13. Anink application device for tattooing or for making permanent make-up asclaimed in claim 10, further comprising a separate ink module attachableto an opening in the disposable module for filling the ink receivingportion, the separate ink module having a quantity of sterile inksufficient for one application.
 14. An ink application device fortattooing or for making permanent make-up as claimed in claim 13,wherein the separate ink module includes an outlet for discharging inkwith each needle stroke.
 15. An ink application device for tattooing orfor making permanent make-up as claimed in claim 13, wherein theseparate ink module includes an outlet for discharging ink into the inkreceiving portion.
 16. An ink application device for tattooing or formaking permanent make-up as claimed in claim 10, wherein the portionthat is connectable to the integrated needle drive is the needle shaft.17. An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanentmake-up as claimed in claim 16, wherein the needle shaft is cylindrical.18. An ink application device for tattooing or for making permanentmake-up as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a diaphragm disposedbetween the ink receiving portion and the basic module.
 19. A method ofusing an ink application device for tattooing or for making permanentmake-up, comprising the steps of: providing a basic module having ahandle and an integrated needle drive; providing a disposable moduleincluding an outer housing substantially surrounding a needle which issupported at one end of the disposable module by a needle nozzle andwhich is supported at another end of the disposable module by a portionthat can contact the integrated needle drive, an ink receiving portiondisposed around the needle, applying ink to a surface; andsimultaneously removing the entire disposable module from the basicmodule directly following an application of ink using the inkapplication device.
 20. The method of using an ink application devicefor tattooing or for making permanent make-up defined in claim 19,further comprising the step of: replacing another disposable module onthe basic module to allow another application of ink.